St. Landry democrat., 1887-02-26
WICKED RED DAN"
His Bold E!scapade and It's Good
Consequences.

"Oh. my bird! my poor Danny, come
back to me!'
The appeal is made by a young girl
who stands in the open window OF a
four-story building overlooking a mar
row court. A flaxen-haired beauty she
is, with large, lustrous gray eyes, frank,
somewhat childish countenance that
bears the mark of close confinement
and umceasing toll. A white apron
covers the front of a neat-titting print
dress, with no ornament at throat or
wrists, since Susan Slayne is only Il
sewing girl, and it requires all her
capabilities to make both ends meet
without indulging herself in luxuries
that most women's hearts regard as
necessarics of life. Day in and day out
Little Susie tolls at her machine for the
great firm of Grind & Keep, shirt
makers and furnishing goods manufac-
turers. Not a companion has Susie
save Red Dan, the wild robin her
brother Jack gave her two years before
she left her country home to seek her
fortune in the great city. Orphaned at
sixteen; driven from home by adverse
circumstances, with brother Jack at
sea, Susie sought employment and
found it where, by practicing the ut
most economy, she manages to keep
soul and body together and retain Red
Dan by her for company. BY accident
the door of the cage falls open and Red
Dan takes advantage of the situation
to hop to the window-sill. Susie sees
the movement and springs from her
chair in alarm.
mo. no; Danny must not go out
there"
But the robin, with a glad chirp,
spreads his wings and is gone out into
the sunny air that is fast becoming
crisp with the near close of the autumn
day. And there in the window stood
poor Susie. wringing her pink hands,
in an attitude of complete despair. Be-
low sounded q step. The girl does not
heed the sound. She is oblivious to ey-
cry thing but the bird, which has found
a perch across the court, on the roof of
sharp gable at least sixty feet dis
tant.
Hello! What's the trouble, Susie?'
At sound of this voice the girl glances
downward to see a stalwart youth
crossing the court. He has passed I'M
der her window and is looking upward.
my bird, Danny articulates she,
oo,ocs tho nd ri
The young man seems to understand.
He disappears, and in a little time
stands beside Susie, who is calling to
the bird in a vain effort to attract the
feathered songster's attention.; but
master robin refuses to be beguiled
back to his prison. He is now free.
He plumes himself, and gazes about
with the air of one fully aware of the
truth. Poor Susie calls in vain. All!
poor heart! she will be indeed lonely
without Red Dan for companion.
Dear. dear, murmured the girl. How
provoking you are, Danny, to leave me
so. You are lost now, and will never
come back''
There is sob in the poor girls voice
that seems to touch the heart Of the
strong-limbed youth at her side.
Wait" he says, Permit me to try
my persuasive powers on Red Dan. /
think he'remembers my voice."
Leaning far out and forming a tunnel
of his hands, he calls gently, coaxingly,
the name of the obstinate robin. First
low and soft, then, perceiving that this
has no effect, raising his voice to a
higher, less musical key. The bird is
not to be coaxed or wheedled. He hops
along the ridge of the steep slate roof.
and seems to mock at the grief of his
poor little mistress.
'.Oh, Dan, Dan, my poor fellow!'
means the girl, still wringing her
pretty, pink hands.
Her companion starts, and bit OF
red steals into his smooth, sunbrowned
checks. His brown eyes, honest and
full of frank light, regard the bowed